Special Agricultural Zone

A new concept of Special Agricultural Development Zones (SAZ) was introduced in 2017-18 for convergence based result oriented scheme preparation and implementation for focused project based interventions in identified potential zones. 1-5 blocks in contiguous areas based on minimum area under the selected crop, potential for production, soil and climatic conditions etc. are the criteria for the selection of zones in each district. Production, marketing, processing, value addition, storage, irrigation etc. are covered in each zone. Interest free loan provided to farmers of each SAZ and the interest subsidy met by Government.

The facilities in each SAZ are Agro Service Centres including soil testing labs and call centre, plant health clinics, weather stations and advisories, biopharmacy including on farm production units, planting materials production units, markets , processing and value addition units, irrigation support, credit interventions if required, extension including ICT based initiatives, community Radio, farmers markets supported by LSGIs, procurement system for surplus production, promotion of farmer technology development and training to farmers on convergence mode. A separate monitoring system introduced for projects in SAZ. The SAZ introduced for rice, vegetables, banana, coconut, floriculture and tribal agriculture. The SAZ are:

Rice

Kuttanad, Kole, Onattukara, Pokkali, Palakkad, Kaipad and Wayanad

Vegetables

Devikulam, Kanjikuzhy, Pazhayannur and Chitoor- Kollengode

Banana

Thrissur

Flowers

Wayanad

Coconut

Kozhikkode

The Detailed Project Report (DPR) of each zone was prepared and the critical gap were identified during 2017-18. Inorder to address the critical gaps identified, an amount of Rs.10.00 crore was earmarked during 2017-18. An amount of Rs.1000.00 lakh is provided during 2018-19 for materializing the objectives envisaged and for filling critical gaps already identified for ensuring successful crop production, value addition and marketing in the zone. Amount for conducting studies on marketing is also included in the outlay. The crop promotion activities or value addition activities in the Special Agricultural Zones are undertaken under the respective schemes. Assistance for farmers is not included under the amount earmarked for SAZ.